Material conveyor, deflector and floor scraper arrangement on continuous miner for longwall operation



Oct. 18, 1955 RUSSELL ETAL 2,721,067

MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION Filed Dec. 5, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 II III 122 22 6222025: 707227 2 7045222. Jareyflz f)? 30112270 27:75am iflgsoikriafd 6 Q flamim.

WWW

Oct. 18, 1955 J. A. RUSSELL ETAI- 2,721,067

ARRANGEMENT MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1949 haw mmwmww @W mmw RN RM V J 9 20. E /SQ/Q T Q a \V/w 5 \wmm 5 w w m fl m M a l 5: 1. f w ui F 2 mm ma 1 Z I m n WW 0 an a m? k 2m N Jwcy N M 29 Q S E Qw N w m mi Sm w m AN Oct. 18, 1955 .J. A. RUSSELL ETAL 2,721,067

MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION Filed Dec. 5, 194 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 18, 1955 RUSSELL ETAL 2,721,067

MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR scRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION 1o Sheets-She et 4 Filed Dec. 5, 1949 w 3% h% SQ whQQ Cyr? a. WamZz'n.

J. A RUSSELL ET AL Oct. 18. 1955 2,721,067 MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ARRANGE MENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5, 1949 6 bum N QRNMN 202' 2220222 ?ZZ fiafizeziazmi Cgrz'? Q 7/022172'72.

Zy Q f/Zfazvzey.

Oct. 18, 1955- A RUSSELL ET AL 2,721,067

MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 5, 1949 1220622202 5: J01? 22 Q 22556 22. J0$ep?2 Zfia 222' 2761 Zfla'ZZz'azzz 2% 62221222 22022 6 222 G 2742222222, ZyM W Oct. 18, 1955 RUSSELL ETAL 2,721,067

MATERIAL. CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION Filed Dec. 5, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 12 20822 Zara: John Q fuss-e22. Josey??? BozzZZ 2327150222 772 5 (15%(9774720! Cyrz'? d 7/072222'72.

w azzmmey.

Oct. 18. 1955 v RUSSELL ET-AL 2,721,067 MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 5, 1949 6 7 52 /,O7 8 2 W 7 u 7% 22 U m Hu 2 1" H 4 I 9 7." a w n 2- M M 0 41M Wu 2 I W2 0 2 p m m a 5% a 2 Wild I A [22778772026 J07??? a. fiusseZZ- .Jqsepfi 7230a 202 2220?? 72?. 62137262 220rney.

Oct. 18. 1955 J. A. RUSSELL ET AL 2,

MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR ANORLOOR scRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION Filed Dec. 5, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 N- A a \q [220492220219.- JO???? 0. Wazsse Z2. Josepkfi 30212736 wiziz'a'm WASaMarZazzd Cgre'? a. 7/6222??? d220rne2l.

Oct. 18, 1955 RUSSELL ET AL 2,721,067

MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION Filed Dec. 5, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 [222 49221 02 5.- J0222? Q 174455622 JoxepZ; fzfioaz Z29.

'MZ'ZZZ'QM ZZZ SuifzezZaad ZQMW United States Patent MATERIAL CONVEYOR, DEFLECTOR AND FLOOR SCRAPER ARRANGEMENT ON CONTINUOUS MINER FOR LONGWALL OPERATION John A. Russell and Joseph R. Bouill, Sydney, Nova Scotia, William M. Sutherland, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, and Cyril A. Hamlin, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, assignors to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 5, 1949, Serial No. 131,094

Claims. (Cl. 262-29) This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to a continuous mining apparatus of the longwall type adapted to mine coal or other mineral from a solid coal seam or mine vein in accordance with the longwall system.

Mining apparatus of the character of the present invention is adapted mechanically to dislodge completely, by a unitary and self-contained machine, minerals such as coal from a solid mine vein or coal seam in a relatively continuous or uninterrupted manner, thereby eliminating the conventional separate steps of cutting, drilling, blasting and loading the coal or other mineral by means of separate pieces of equipment, resultantly greatly simplifying and speeding up the mining cycle. The mineral or coal as it is dislodged from the solid mine vein or coal seam is suitably collected and conveyed to a convenient point of delivery so that manual loading is substantially avoided. By the reason of extreme compactness, both vertically and laterally, of the apparatus of the present invention, the same is particularly adapted to use in the relatively restricted spaces resulting from close propping and timbering of the roof, common to longwall faces encountered in the longwall system of mining, and since the apparatus must operate in opposite directions along the longwall face in parallelism with the latter in accordance with such system, the apparatus of the present invention is made readily reversible. Moreover, the apparatus of the present invention, due to its novel features of construction and design, is ideally suitable for the complete mechanical mining and loading of minerals such as coal from a longwall face in mines having low head room, and due to its lateral compactness, may be conveniently moved through the narrow space between the longwall face and a face conveyor which extends parallel to the face inside of the line of the roof props or jacks, and the collecting and conveying means of the apparatus receives the dislodged and disintegrated coal or other minerals and conveys the same first rearwardly and then laterally of the apparatus to the face conveyor as the apparatus operates along the longwall face during the mining operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mining apparatus. Another object is to provide improved continuous mining apparatus especially adapted for use in accordance with the longwall system of mining whereby the coal or other mineral may be dislodged from a solid mine vein or coal seam in a substantially uninterrupted manner. Another object is to provide an improved longwall continuous mining apparatus which is capable of operating in either of opposite directions along a longwall face. A further object is to provide an improved continuous mining apparatus which is extremely compact, both vertically and laterally, whereby the apparatus may readily operate in the relatively restricted passageways encountered in mining in accordance with the longwall system. A still further object is to provide an improved mining apparatus having improved vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 2,721,067 Patented Oct. 18, 1955 ICC and improved means for directing the disintegrated mineral downwardly beneath the attacking and disintegrating mechanism. Still another object is to provide an improved floor clean-up and gathering device whereby the loose material received thereby may, at least in part, be directed onto the main conveyor of the apparatus. A still further object is to provide an improved mining apparatus having novel combinations and arrangements of parts. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View and Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a continuous mining apparatus constructed in accordance with a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in central longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, with the disintegrating chains omitted to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal vertical section taken substantially on the plane of lines 9-9 of Fig. 6, illustrating a portion of the jib swinging means.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the planes of lines 10-10 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a detail side elevational view of one of the driving motors for the attacking and disintegrating mechanism, with parts shown in section.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions shown in horizontal section, of the apparatus.

Fig. 15 is a central longitudinal vertical section taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a cross section taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line 17-17 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 18-18 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic fluid system.

Fig. 20 is a detail section taken through the automatic control valve for limiting upward jib swing.

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the continuous mining apparatus in an operating position in a mine.

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic side view showing the mining apparatus in a mine passageway, with the attacking and disintegrating mechanism in its different operating positions.

The continuous mining apparatus of the present invention constitutes an improvement over those disclosed in the copending applications to Harold F. Silver, Serial No. 11,688, filed February 27, 1948, John D. Russell, Serial No. 102,995, filed July 5, 1949, John R. Sibley, Serial No. 102,996, filed July 5, 1949, and the Charles F. Ball applications, Serial No. 17,993, filed March 30, 1948, and Serial No. 86,516, filed April 9, 1949, now Patent No. 2,705,626, dated April 5, 1955, all owned by applicants assignee, Joy Manufacturing Company.

The continuous mining apparatus, as shown in the drawings, generally comprises a mobile base 1 adapted to travel over the mine floor or pavement, a main machine body 2 mounted on the base for rectilinear translatory guided movement longitudinally relative thereto, a veinattacking and disintegrating mechanism generally designated' 3 carried on the forward portion of the machine body 2,a main loading conveyor 4 carried by the machine grating mechanism, and a cross delivery conveyor 6 carried at the rear end of the machine body and onto which the main loading conveyor discharges. The attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3 is adapted to detach and disintegrate coal or other mineral in relatively wide vertical segments from a solid coal seam or mine vein, and the detached or disintegrated coal or other mineral is moved by the attacking and disintegrating mechanism re'arwa'rdly from the working face, and a major portion of the disintegrated material is discharged onto the" main loading conveyor rearwardly of the pick-up device 5. Any loose material which falls to the mine floor or pavement and the relatively small portion of the material which. is discharged from the attacking and disintegrating mechanism downwardly onto the pick-up device 5, is directed onto the front receiving end of the main conveyor. The main loading conveyor 4'conveys the disintegrated material received thereby rearwardly of the apparatus and at its rear end discharges the material onto the cross delivery. conveyor which in turn conveys the mat'erial laterally of the apparatus beyond one side of the base to a suitable point of delivery. A pair ofmotors 7, desirably water cooled electric motors, symmetrically arranged on the machine body 2 at the opposite sides of the main conveyor, serve to drive the attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3, and a motor 8, likewise desirably a water cooled electric motor, is mounted on the body beneath the main conveyor, intermediate the motors 7, and drives conventional pumping means 9 and the main and delivery conveyors 4 and 6. Theattacking and disintegrating mechanism 3 is pivoted at 10 on the body 2 to swing in vertical planes relative thereto about a transverse horizontal axis, and extensible hydraulic rams or jacks 11 enclosed within the attacking and disintegrating mechanism are provided to swing the latter about its pivot. Extensible hydraulic jacks 12 on the base serve to move the main machine body 2, together with the attacking and disintegrating mechanism and the loading and delivery conveyors, rectilinearly lengthwise of the base; The pick-up device or gatherer is pivoted at 12' on. the machine body on a transverse horizontal axis to tilt in a vertical direction and extensible hydraulic jacks 13, serve to tilt the same and hold it in adjusted position. The mobile base 1 is of the crawler type and has endless .traction treads 14 for propelling and steering the apparatus, and piston type hydraulic engines or motors 15, one individual to each tread, serve to drive the treads (Fig. 16). Mounted on the body of the apparatus at the rearward portion of the latter are vertical hydraulic roof jacks 16 and carried by the base beneath the body near the central portion of the apparatus are vertical hydraulic floor jacks 17. These roof and floor jacks serve to hold the apparatus steady during its operation and to support the roof above the apparatus and the floor jacks may be employed to tilt the apparatus to direct the base at the desiredtinclination during sumping of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism.

The tractor base 1 may assume various forms but herein comprises side frames 20 providing guideways about which the endless crawler treads are adapted to circulate, and these side frames are connected by'cross frame members or cross bars 21 which cooperate with the side frames to provide the frame of the base. The

4 e hydraulic motors 15 are arranged within the tread frames 20 and are connected to chain sprockets 22, journaled within the rearward portions of the tread frames, and which engage and drive the tread chins. Idler sprockets 23 are journaled within the forward portions of the tread frames and the crawler treads pass around and are guided by these sprockets. The front idler sprockets 23 are secured to cross shafts 24 suitably journaled in the tread frames.

The attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3 is the joint invention of I. A. Russell and J. R. Bouvill and is fully disclosed and claimed in a copending application Serial No. 131,095, filed of even date herewith. This attacking and disintegrating mechanism or so called jib or disintegrating head comprises a swingable jib frame or bar structure 60 having a rearward frame portion 61 provided with side bearing portions 62 (Fig. 6) which surround and 'pivotally engage cylindrical bearing portions 63 integral with spaced side portions of the body herein in the form of gear casings or side housings 64 mounted on a horizontal plate 65 of the machine body 2. The jib frame has an adjustable outer portion 66 to which parallel guide rods 67 are secured at 68. These guide rods are slidably received in parallel longitudinally extending guide bores 69 formed in the rearward portion 61 of the jib frame. Screw and nut devices 7 9 are arranged between the rearwardframe portion 61 and the guide rods 67 for adjusting the outer frame portion 66 relative to the inner frame portion for a purpose to be later explained. Outer side plates 71 detachably secured to the outer sides of the rearward frame portion 61 of the jib frame are formed with openings 72 having removable covers 73 whereby access to the screw and nut devices may be afforded. The motors 7 have secured to the front ends of their power shafts spur pinions 75 (Figs. 11 and 12) which mesh with spur gears 76 which in turn mesh'with and drive spur gears 77 (see also Fig. 13). The gears 75, 76 and 77 are enclosed within housings 78 which are suitably secured to the front motor heads. The gears 77 are secured to longitudinal shafts 79 suitably journaled within the gear housings and these shafts at their forward ends are connected by couplings 86 to aligned shafts 81. These shafts are journaled in bearings 82 supported within the gear casing 64 as shown in Fig. 5. Connected by slip clutches 82' (see Fig. l) to the shafts 81 are worms 83 which mesh with and drive worm wheels 84 having their hubs 85 journaled in bearings 86 supported within the gear casings (Fig. 6). Keyed at 87 within the hubs of the worm wheels are the ends of a transverse drive shaft 88 which extends axially through bores 89 in the bearing portions 63 for the swingable jib frame. Splined at 90 to the shaft 88 are chain sprockets 91 which engage and drive endless disintegrating chains 92. Surrounding the shaft 88 and arranged intermediate the chain sprockets are spacing sleeves 93. The disintegrating chains move in parallel vertical orbits about the jib frame and at their forward portions pass around and drive chain sprockets 94 splined at 95 to a transverse shaft 96 herein arranged parallel with the shaft 88 are journaled within the adjustable outer frame portion 66. The shaft 96 is-supported within sleeves 97 which are journaled in bearings 98 supported in bores 99 formed in the outer frame portion 66. Splined to the outer ends" of the shaft 96 are chain sprockets 109 which engage and drive side disintegrating chains 101 which move about the jib frame in vertical orbits parallel with theorbits of the intermediate disintegrating chains 92. The sprockets are secured as by screws 1&2 (Fig. 6) to the ends of the shaft 96 and these screws serve to prevent axial displacement of the shaft from its mounting on the jib frame. The side disintegrating chains 181 are of less length than the intermediate chains and at their rearward portions engage andpass around semi-circular guide surfaces 103 on the rearward frame portion 61 (Figs. 5 and 6). By adjusting the screw and nut devices 70 of the outer jib frame portion 66 may be adjusted longitudinally relative to the rearward frame portion 61 to vary the tension of the disintegrating chains. The disintegrating chains comprise a series of chain blocks 104 pivotally connected to strap links 105 by hinge pins 106, and the chain blocks have lateral lugs 107 for supporting disintegrating elements 108 which are herein in the form of cutter bits or picks. In the construction shown the chain sprockets each has sprocket teeth which are arranged to engage the chain elements to effect drive of the chains. The structures of these disintegrating chains may be similar to those disclosed in a copending application to A. Lee Barrett and L. G. Rollins, Serial No. 108,938, filed August 6, 1949, now Patent No. 2,560,813, dated September 1, 1953, and likewise owned by applicants assignee. The particular structure of the disintegrating teeth and their mountings on the disintegrating chains may be similar to those disclosed in the copending applications to Joseph F. Joy, Serial No. 57,047, filed October 28, 1948, now abandoned and Serial No. 84,129, filed March 29, 1949, now Patent No. 2,676,005, dated April 20, 1954, also both owned by applicants assignee. The particular structure of the chain sprockets is the invention of A. Lee Barrett and L. G. Rollins as disclosed in application Serial No. 129,658, filed November 26, 1949, now Patent No. 2,602,343, dated July 8, 1952, and is therefore, not disclosed in detail herein. Thus, when the motors 7 are running the disintegrating chains may be rapidly circulated in their orbits through the spur gearing 75, 76 and 77, worm gearing 83, 84, shaft 88 and chain sprockets 91, 94 and 100, with the bottom runs of the disintegrating chains moving forwardly and outwardly and the top runs of the chains moving rearwardly. A vertical side plate or shield 110 is detachably secured as by screws 111 to the outer side of the jib frame for preventing lateral discharge of the disintegrated material from the attacking and disintegrating mechanism, and this plate or shield may be attached to the jib frame at either side thereof depending upon the direction in which the apparatus is operating. The rearward portion of this retaining plate is arcuately cut away at 112 to fit around the adjacent gear casing or side housing 64, as shown in Fig. 2.

Associated with the adjustable outer portion 66 of the jib frame of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3 is means for supplying spray water to the working face of the mine vein or coal seam in proximity to the zone of action of the disintegrating elements 108 to allay the dust in a manner similar to that disclosed in the copending Sibley application Serial No. 102,996 above referred to. This spray Water supply means comprises a series of water chambers 115 formed in spaced projecting portions 116 of the outer frame portion 66, which projections supporting the bearings 98 for the shaft 96, as shown in Fig. 6. These chambers 115 are connected together by transverse passages 117, and a water supply pipe 118 extends through the jib frame and communicates with the central one of the chambers 115. Mounted in the substantially semi-circular outer end walls 119 of the frame portions 116 are spray nozzles 120 (Fig. 9). The supply pipe 118 at its rearward end extends into a lateral opening 121 in the side of the jib frame portion 61 (Fig. 6) and communicates with a supply passage 122 (Fig. 9) leading into a chamber 123 in a conduit member 124 secured to the top of the adjacent bearing portion 62 of the jib frame. A supply pipe 125 is connected to the chamber 123 and leads to any suitable source of water pressure. Thus, as the distintegrating chains are operated to effect disintegration of the coal or other mineral a fine spray of water is discharged from the outer portion of the jib frame between the disintegrating chains to keep down the dust. As the disintegrated material is moved rearwardly by the top runs of the intermediate disintegrating chains 92 it is discharged onto the main loading conveyor 4, and as shown in Fig. 3, a cross member 127 extends between troughlike side portions 128 of the machine body (Figs. 1 and 3), and this cross member is so shaped and so located with respect to the paths of orbital movement of the intermediate disintegrating chains that it serves to deflect the disintegrated material from the chain path toward the loading conveyor. This cross member 127 also serves as a brace between the side portions 128 of the machine body. The disintegrated material conveyed rearwardly by the top runs of the side disintegrating chains 101 is deflected downwardly by curved chute portions 129 onto the pick-up device 5 as later described.

The means for swinging the attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3 in vertical planes about its pivot 10 comprises the hydraulic rams 11 and the associated mechanism now to be described. The rams are single acting and include parallel cylinders arranged longitudinally of and spaced equi-distantly from the longitudinal center of the swingable jib frame 60, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. These cylinders are located within the orbits of the disintegrating chains 92 and are enclosed within the jib frame as shown. Contained in these cylinders are reciprocable pistons 146 to which piston rods or pitmen 147 are pivotally connected by pivot pins at 148, on axes parallel to the axis of the pivot 10, and these piston rods are pivotally connected at their rearward ends at 149 to a transverse horizontal bar or rod 150 herein passing through longitudinal slots 151 in the jib frame and secured at its ends as by pins 152 within bores 153 in the forward ends of connecting rods or reaction links 154. These links 154 extend downwardly through side recesses 155 in the rear part of the jib frame and are pivotally connected at their rearward ends to pivot pins 155' carried by brackets 156 integral with the gear casings 64 secured tothe machine body 2, and located beneath the pivot 10 as shown in Fig. 9. Rollers 157 are rotatably mounted on the cross rod 150 and a spacing sleeve 158 surrounds the rod between the rollers, as shown in Fig. 6. These rollers engage inclined bottom surfaces 159 of wedge or cam blocks 160, inclined with respect to the path of the rollers and secured to the bottom of the top wall of the jib frame. Liquid under pressure may be supplied to the forward ends of the ram cylinders 145 through branch pipes 161 arranged within the jib frame and extending rearwardly to a tee 162 which is connected by a pipe 163 to a control valve device 164 carried by the jib frame, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A supply pipe 165 is connected to the valve device and extends laterally through the opening 166 in the adjacent side of the jib frame and is connected to a passage of a chambered member 168, similar to the member 124 above described and similarly secured to the top of the adjacent bearing portion 62 of the jib frame (Fig. 10). The source of liquid supply to the pipe 165 will later be described. The control device 164 is of a conventional design and includes a slide valve 169 (Fig. 20) having a stern 170 which is engaged by the operating lever 171 pivoted on the jib frame at 172. The valve of the control device is normally open and when liquid under pressure is supplied thereto through the supply pipe 165 it may flow past the valve through pipes 161 to the forward ends of the ram cylinders 145 causing the pistons 146 to move rearwardly thereby moving the rollers 157 along the wedging surfaces 159, swinging therewith the links 154, to swing the jib frame upwardly about its pivot. When the limit of upward travel of the jib frame is reached, as indicated by the upper dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, the sleeve 158 on the cross rod 150 engages the lever 171 swinging the latter about its pivot to a position wherein the control valve is closed cutting off further liquid flow to the ram cylinders. When the supply pipe 165 is vented liquid may fiow from the ram cylinders past a spring loaded check valve 173 embodied in the control device (Fig. 20) and through the pipe 165 back to the liquid source, so that the jib may be lowered at a controlled rate. The control means for the liquid supply to and the vent from the ram cylinders will be laterdescribed.

Now referring to the structure of the conveyors 4 and 6 and more particularly to the driving means therefore it will be noted that the motor 8 has the rear end of its power shaft connected by a coupling 175 to an aligned shaft 176 which is in'turn connected by a safety slip clutch 177 to a shaft 178 ofa conventional speed reducer 179. This speed reducer has a casing 180 which is secured to the top of the body plate 65. reducer consists of a transverse horizontal shaft 181 which projects from the opposite sides of the casing 180, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. The shaft 181 is at one end connectible to an aligned shaft 182 by a sliding jaw clutch member 183 splined to the shaft 182 and engageable to a jaw clutch member 184 keyed to the shaft 181. The shiftable clutch member 183 may be operated by the shipper 1 yoke 185 provided with an operating rod 186 having a handle 187. The shaft 182 is suitably journaled in bearing's 188 supported by bearing brackets 189 (Fig. 18) mounted at one side of the body plate 65 and keyed to and driven by the shaft 182 is a chain sprocket 198. This chain sprocket is connected by an endless drive chain 191 to a drive sprocket 192 keyed to a transverse drive shaft 193 from the main loading conveyor 4. The shaft 193 is journaled in bearings 194 supported by slides 195 guided in longitudinal guideways 196 at the sides of the conveyor frame and provided with adjusting screws 197. A conventional'chain tightener sprocket 198 engages the slack run of the drive chain 191 and is journaled on a vertical slide 199 mounted in a vertical guideway 200 on the conveyor frame and provided with adjusting screws 291. Thus, the sprocket 198 may be adjusted to vary the tension of the drive chain 191.

The loading conveyor 4 is of the endless flight type and comprises side chains'204 guided for circulation in suitable guideways between vertical side plates 2175 supported by upright supports 296 of the machine body 2. The rear ends of the plates 295 are longitudinally slotted at 205' to receive the ends of the adjustable sprocket shaft 193 (Figs. 14 and 15.). Connected between the side chains at spaced intervals are transverse scraper bars 287 which are adapted to convey material. along a horizontal upper plate 208 extending between and secured as by welding to the vertical side plates. The bottom run of the conveyor may move along side bars 209 secured as by welding to a paral lel bottom plates 210 also secured as by welding to the side plates 205 (see Fig. 18). Detachably secured to the tops of the side plates are retaining or skirt plates 211 and outwardly diverging retaining or skirt plates 212 and the latter extend along the tops of the troughlike frame portions 128 and provide forward continuations of the retaining plates 211. The retaining plates 212 cooperate with the troughlike portions 128 to direct the material discharged rearwardly from the intermediate disintegrating chains 92 onto the loading conveyor and the plates 211 and 212 serve to reduce spillage of the material from the sides of the top run of the loading conveyor. The side chains of the conveyor at the forward end of the apparatus pass around sprockets 213 (one of which is shown in Fig. 3) journaled on a transverse shaft 214 suitably supported withinvthe sides of the forward portion of the conveyor frame and at the rear end of the apparatus the conveyor chains pass around drive sprockets 215 fixed to the transverse drive shaft 193. By adjusting the screws 197 the slides 195 may be moved longitudinally in their guideways to adjust the sprocket shaft 193 thereby to vary the tension of the conveyor side chains. The main loading conveyor at its rearward end overlies and discharges onto the cross delivery conveyor 6 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The pick-up device or gatherer 5, as previously mentioned, is pivoted at 12' to swing in vertical planes and heroin comprises a wide open-mouthed shovel, scraper or plow 264 having a wide forward mouth-portion 265 provided with a transverse penetrating edge 266. This shovel extends transversely beneath the disintegrating head so that the chutes 129 may direct the disintegrated mineral The-terminal element of this speed 8 discharged from the short side chains downwardly toward the shovel in the manner above referred to. The shovel 264 desirably has its pivot coaxial with the front idler shaft 214 of the main loading conveyor. The hydraulic jacks 13 are reversible and each includes a cylinder 267 pivoted at 268 on lugs integral with the body plate 65 and containing a reciprocable piston 269 having its piston rod 270 pivotally connected at 271 to lugs integral with the frame of the shovel in advance of the shovel pivot. The means for supplying liquid to the jack cylinders will later be described. Thus, when liquid under pressure is properly supplied to the jack cylinders the pistons 269 may be moved to tilt the shovel upwardly into its raised transport position or to lower the shovel to bring its penetrating edge at or near the level of the mine floor or pavement. When the plow or scraper is in its lowered position as shown'in Figs. 2 and 5 and the apparatus is advanced along the coal face the scraper plows into the loose material on the mine floor, piling it up, and directs some of the loose material rearwardly and upwardly toward the front receiving end of the main loading conveyor. During the dislodging and disintegrating operation the loose material moved rearwardly by the side disintegrating chains 101 is deflected downwardly by the chute portions 129 onto the shovel or.

scraper and the loose material collected or piled up by the shovel may be picked up by the attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3 when the latter is swung downwardly to the lower dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, wherein the disintegrating chains may pick up the loose material and move it forwardly, upwardly and then rearwardly to dis charge onto the main conveyor.

The roof and floor jacks 16 and 17 will now be de-' scribed in detail. The roof jacks are double acting and comprise vertical jack cylinders 275 having their bases 27 secured to the top plates 277 of the conveyor frame supports 206, at the opposite sides of the'rearward portion of the loading conveyor and reciprocable .in these cylinders are pistons having piston rods 279 projecting upwardly through the upper packed cylinder heads 280. The piston rods have serrated or toothed upper end portions 281 which are engageable with the mine roof. The fioor jacks 17 are likewise double acting and comprise vertical cylinders 285 secured to brackets 286 mounted on the rear cross bar 21 of the tractor base. Reciprocable in these cylinders are pistons 287 having piston rods 288 extending downwardly through the lower packed cylinder heads 289 and having serrated or toothed bottoms 290 engageable with the floor or pavement. Thus, when liquid under pressure is properly supplied to the jack cylinders of the roof and floor jacks the piston rods may be brought into contact with the roof and floor as desired and by trapping liquid in the cylinders the piston rods may be locked in adjusted position. The floor jacks may be employed to tilt the apparatus upwardly at its rearward portion during the sumping operation to direct the attacking and disintegrating mechanism at a downward inclination. The roof jacks may be extended into engagement with the roof to prevent the rear end of the apparatus from tilting upwardly during upward swing of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism during the coal dislodging operation. The means for supplying liquid under pressure to the jack cylinders will later be described.

The electric control apparatus for the motors 7 and 8 comprises a control box 295 mounted transversely at the rear end of the machine body at the rear side of the cross delivery conveyor as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The control box encloses electric control devices and has handles 296 and 297 at its opposite sides for controlling the motor switches. The control box has attaching devices 298 and 299 at its opposite sidesto which a tool box 300 is selectively attachable depending upon the direction in which the apparatus is operated so that the tool box may always be located at the side of the apparatus remote from the coal face. The control valve means for the various hydraulically operated devices of the apparatus have operating means located above the control box 295 at the rear end of the machine body as will later be described whereby complete control of the apparatus may be conveniently effected by an operator located at his station at the rear end of the apparatus.

Now referring to the hydraulic system and the associated control valve means shown diagrammatically in Fig. 19 it will be noted that the pumping means 9 is driven from the front end of the motor 8 and includes twin pump units 302 and 303 which have their suction sides connected by branch conduits 304 and 305 to a suction line 306 leading to a liquid reservoir consisting of a pair of liquid tanks 387, one located above each motor 7 on the machine body as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and connected in communication with one another by a cross pipe 308 (see also Fig. 3). The discharge sides of the pump units are connected by conduits 309 and 310 to the pressure passages of the reversing valves 55 for the driving engines 15 of the crawler base. Each of the valve devices 55 has a bore containing a reciprocable control valve 311 and the valve receiving bore is connected by the flexible conduits 48 and 49 to the automatic distributing valves 39 for the engines 15. Liquid under pressure may flow from the pressure passages of the valve devices 55 through conduits 312 and 313 which communicate with a conduit 314 leading to the pressure passage of a conventional control valve mechanism 315. This valve mechanism comprises a valve box 316 having bores for receiving conventional slide valves 317, 318, 319, 320, and 321. The bore containing the slide valve 317 is connected by flexible conduits 322 and 323 through branches with the opposite ends of the cylinders of the reversible feeding packs 12. The bore containing the slide valve 318 is connected by conduits 324 and 325 to the opposite ends of the cylinders of the reversible tilt jacks 13 for the pick-up device 5. The bore containing the slide valve 319 is connected by conduits 326 and 327 to the opposite ends of the cylinder of one of the reversible floor jacks 17 while the bore receiving the valve 321 is connected by conduits 328 and 329 to the cylinder of the other reversible fioor jack 17. The bore containing the slide valve 320 is connected by the conduit 165 to the automatic control valve 164 through which fluid flows to the hydraulic rams 11 for swinging the attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3. Leading from the pressure line 314 is a conduit 330 having branches 330a and 3301: connected to the bores which receive the rotary control valves 331 and 332. Conduits 333 and 334 lead from the bore which receives the valve 331 to the opposite ends of the cylinder of one of the reversible roof jacks 16 and the bore which receives the other valve 332 is connected by conduits 335 and 336 to the opposite ends of the cylinder of the other reversible roof jack 16. Also, leading from the bore which receives the valves 331 and 332 are return conduits 337 and 338 which are connected to a return line 339 leading back to the tanks. The discharge passage of the valve box 316 is connected by a return line 340 which communicates with the return line 339, and the valve devices 55 have return lines 341 and 342 which also communicate with the return line 339.

The general mode of operation of the improved continuous mining apparatus is as follows: The apparatus may be propelled about the mine by the crawler treads 14 driven by the engines 15 and the engine speeds may be varied to vary the rate of travel of the tractor base. The engine speeds may also be regulated so that the crawler treads may be driven at relatively diiferent speeds to effect steering of the apparatus. The crawler treads may be driven in the reverse direction simply by reversing the engines 15. In Figs. 21 and 22 various operations of the mining apparatus are illustrated diagrammatically. When the working face is reached liquid under pressure may be supplied to the cylinders of the jacks 13 to effect lowering of the shovel of the pick-up device 5 to the level of the mine floor or pavement and the motors 7 may be operated to effect rapid circulation of the disintegrating chains 92 and 101 in their orbits about the jib frame 60. The attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3 may then be swung downwardly about its pivot to the full line position indicated at A in Fig. 22 and when the attacking and disintegrating mechanism is in its lowered sumping position liquid under pressure may be supplied to the cylinders of the feed jacks 12 to effect feed of the machine body forwardly rectilinearly along its guideways relative to the crawler base to sump the outer portion of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism into the coal or other mineral to the dotted line position indicated at B in Fig. 22. Prior to the sumping operation of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism the floor jacks 17 may be operated to efiect tilting of the rear end of the apparatus upwardly so that when the tip end of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism is in sumping position at the floor or pavement level it may be directed downwardly as it is sumped into the coal or other mineral. Upon completion of the sumping liquid may be trapped in the feed jacks 12 and liquid under pressure may be supplied to the roof jacks 16 to bring their piston rods up against the roof, and liquid may be trapped in the jack cylinders to lock the jacks in adjusted position. Liquid under pressure may then be supplied to the cylinders of the rams 11 to elfect swinging of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism 3 upwardly about its pivot to bring its tip end up near the roof level, to the position shown in dotted lines at C in Fig. 22. The roof jacks prevent tilting of the apparatus as the attacking and disintegrating mechanism is swung upwardly. As the attacking and disintegrating mechanism swings upwardly the disintegrating chains 92 and 101 tear out or discharge the coal or other mineral in relatively large fragments from the working face. When the attacking and disintegrating mechanism reaches its upper limit of swing the control valve 164 is automatically positioned to cut 011. flow of liquid under pressure to the rams 11 to prevent further application of upward swinging forces to the jib frame. When the attacking and disintegrating mechanism is in its raised position at the roof level the feeding jacks 12 may be operated to move the machine body rearwardly along its guideways relative to the tractor base to withdraw the attacking and disintegrating mechanism from the coal or other mineral, to the position indicated in dotted lines at D in Fig. 22, and thereafter the rams 11 may be vented through the automatic valve device 165 to cause the attacking and disintegrating mechanism to swing downwardly to its initial horizontal position shown in Fig. 2. The disintegrated coal or other mineral dislodged from the coal seam or mine vein by the disintegrating chains is conveyed rearwardly by the top runs of the chains to discharge onto the loading conveyor 4 and to the shovel of the pick-up device 5, and some of the material collected on the shovel is directed onto the front receiving end of the loading conveyor. The shield or plate secured to the side of the jib frame 60 remote from the face, serves to retain the disintegrated material which is conveyed rearwardly by the disintegrating chains 92 and 101, on the jib frame to prevent outward discharge of the material. Upon completion of the dislodging cycle the mining apparatus may be advanced by the crawler base forwardly along the longwall face to a new operating position and thereafter the dislodging cycle may be repeated. As the apparatus is forwardly advanced along the longwall face the shovel or scraper of the pick-up device 5 plows into the material which has fallen to the mine floor or pavement and some of the material received by the shovel is forced rearwardly and upwardly along the shovel onto the loading conveyor. Any disintegrated material collected on the floor in advance of the pick-up device 5 may be picked up from the floor by the bottom runs of the disintegrating chains as the 11 attacking and disintegrating mechanism is lowered into adjacency to the shovel and is conveyed'forwardly, upwardly and then rearwardly to discharge onto the loading conveyor. in Fig. 21 the mining apparatus is shown operating in accordance with the longwall system of mining and the longwall face is designated F and the usual cross passages or roadways at the ends of the longwall face are designated R and R. Props or jacks designated P are distributed along the entire length of the longwall face to support the immediate roof. Extending parallel to the longwall faceon the mine floor be tween the mining apparatus and the line of the roof props is a conventional face conveyor designated PC which discharges onto a main conveyor MC located in the roadway R. The exposed working face is designated WF. The mine roof at the sides of the cross passages or roadways R and R are supported by conventional cribs and the mined out area which is filled with gob has its roof supported by usual pack walls. As the attacking and disintegrating mechanism of the mining apparatus is sumped, swung upwardly and withdrawn to dislodge the coal or other mineral from the working face the disintegrated material is received by the main loading conveyor 4' which discharges onto the coal delivery conveyor 6 and the latter in turn discharges the material onto the face conveyor; The mining apparatus is moved progressively in steps along the longwall face and the dislodging operations are repeated and when the mining apparatus reaches the left-hand end of the longwall face as shown in Fig. 21 it may be maneuvered by the treads of the crawler base into positions to elfect dislodging of the vein or seam to provide a stable or stall S of sufficient size to permit turning around of the mining apparatus. When the position of the mining apparatus is reversed the delivery conveyor 6 may be moved in an end- 7 wise direction to proiect at its discharge end from the opposite side of the apparatus, thereafter the conveyor may be locked in position and the conveyor may be reversed. The tool box 399 may be detached from the side of the control box and transposed to the opposite ide of the apparatus. The mining apparatus may then be advanced in the opposite direction along the longwall face and the operations above described repeated and upon completion of the dislodging operation a stall or stable may be formed at the right hand end of the face,

to permit turning around of the apparatus in a manner similar to that above described.

As a' result of this invention an improved continuous mining apparatus is provided whereby the coal or other mineral from a solid coal seam or mine vein may be mechanically dislodged completely and in a substantially uninterrupted manner without the need of the separate steps'of cutting, drilling and blasting and the dislodged coal or other mineral may be loaded and conveyed to a suitable point of delivery without substantial manual handling. By the provision of a mining apparatus which is extremely compact, both vertically and laterally, the

same is particularly adapted to use in accordance with the longwall system of mining. By the provision of the swinging mechanism for the attacking and disintegrating mechanism of the apparatus, with the swinging cylinders arranged within the frame of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism, the latter is made relatively compact, well adapted to use in the narrow spaces encountered in the longwall system of mining. Due to the novel con struction and design of the apparatus, the attacking and disintegrating mechanism is of sufficient width so that a passageway may be formed in the vein or seam of such size as to admit the body of the apparatus as the latter is advanced along the longwall face. As the coal or othermineral is dislodged from the coal seam or mine vein it is receivedby the main loading conveyor which in turn discharges the disintegrated material onto the cross conveyor of the apparatus, and the latter moves the disintegrated material transversely of the apparatus to discharge onto the conventional face conveyor arranged wardly beneath said attacking and disintegrating mecha- 12 r on the mine floor between the apparatus and the line of. the roof props. As the apparatus is advanced along the longwall face during the mining operationthe cross delivery conveyor at all times overlies the face conveyor in a position to discharge the material thereon. By the provision of the crawler base and the driving means for the crawler treads a powerful and variable feed of the apparatus may be obtained. Due to the novel structure of the disintegrating mechanism the intermediate disintegrating chains move the disintegrated material rearwardly directly onto the loading conveyor while the side disintegrating chains move the material rearwardly and discharge downwardly onto the shovel of the pick-up device which directs the material collected thereon toward the front receiving end of the loading conveyor, at a point beneath the attacking and disintegrating mechanism. Theapparatus due to its novel design is relatively rugged and compact and is efiicient in operation and sensitive to control, well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended. Other manners of use and advantages of the improved mining apparatus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. in a continuous mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base movable over the mine floor in a direction parallel with the face of a mine vein, veinattacking and disintegrating mechanism mounted on the front end of. said base to swing in vertical planes with respect thereto comprising disintegrating elements movable in vertical planes and arranged side by side in a row.

completely across the outer portion of said mechanism,

said mechanismduring aforesaid swinging operation dis said conveyor, a vertical retaining plate carried. by said.

mechanism at its outer side and swingable with said mechanism, said plate overlapping and cooperating with the adjacent troughlike plate for preventing spillage of disintegrated mineral laterally through the open side of the face, the side disintegrating elements of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism moving in smaller orbits than the intermediate elements with'the rear portions of said smaller orbits disposed in advance of the rear portions of the intermediate orbits, and chutelike plates at the sides of said mechanism rearwardly of said smaller orbits of the side disintegrating elements whereby the disintegrated mineral discharged from said side disintegrating elements is directed downwardly into a position to be received by the lower forward portion of said conveyor, and said troughlike side plates directing the mineral discharged from the intermediate disintegrating.

elements toward said conveyor rearwardly of said lower forward portion thereof. 7

2. A continuous mining apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein, a front gathering means is disposed at the floor level in advance of said base and said conveyor has its forward portion extending forwardly and downnism into a position to receive mineral directed rear- 13 wardly and upwardly by said gathering means,. and wherein said chutelike plates are arranged to direct the disintegrated mineral discharged from the side disintegrating elements downwardly toward said gathering means.

3. In a mining apparatus, a mobile base movable over a floor of a mine, a machine body mounted on said base, a vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism pivotally mounted at the front endof said body in advance of said base to swing in vertical planes and including disintegrating elements movable in vertical orbits for dislodging the mineral of a solid mine vein, a floor cleanup device mounted on said body and extending transversely beneath said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for receiving any loose mineral which has fallen to the floor during the attacking and disintegrating operation, a conveyor carried by said body, said conveyor arranged to receive the disintegrated mineral discharged from said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, and said attacking and disintegrating mechanism so arranged with respect to said conveyor and said clean-up device and so constructed that a major portion of the disintegrated mineral is discharged rearwardly from said mechanism onto the said conveyor and a relatively small portion of the material at the sides of said mechanism is discharged rearwardly, and deflectors on said body at the sides of said mechanism in advance of the pivot thereof for directing said relatively small portion of the disintegrated mineral downwardly toward said clean-up device.

4. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said disintegrating mechanism has a wide forward portion and a relatively narrow rearward portion and said body has spaced forward body portions, said attacking and disintegrating mechanism having its narrow rearward portion disposed between and pivotally mounted on said spaced body portions, and said deflectors are secured to the forward sides of said spaced body portions at the sides of said narrow rearward portion of said mechanism for directing mineral discharged rearwardly from the sides of said forward wide portion downwardly toward said floor clean-up device.

5. In a mining apparatus, a mobile base movable over a floor of a mine, a machine body mounted on said base, a vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism pivotally mounted at the front end of said body in advance of said base to swim in vertical planes and comprising disintegrating elements movable in vertical orbits for dislodging the mineral of a solid mine vein, a floor cleanup device mounted on said body and extending transversely beneath said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for receiving any loose mineral which has fallen to the floor during the attacking and disintegrating operation, a conveyor carried by said body, said conveyor arranged to receive disintegrated mineral discharged from said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, said attacking and disintegrating mechanism so arranged with respect to said conveyor and said clean-up device and so constructed that a major portion of the disintegrated mineral is discharged from said mechanism onto said conveyor and a relatively small portion of the mineral is discharged at the sides of said mechanism, said body having a trough-like structure rearwardly of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for directing said major portion of the disintegrated mineral rearwardly onto said conveyor, and chute-like members on said body at the sides of said mechanism in advance of and below said trough-like structure for directing said small portion of the disintegrated mineral downwardly toward said clean-up device.

6. In a mining apparatus, a mobile base movable over a mine floor, a body carried by said base, vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism pivotally mounted on said body in advance of said base to swing in vertical planes for dislodging and disintegrating the mineral of a solid mine vein including disintegrating elements m v= able in vertical orbits, conveying means on said body, a floor clean-up device mounted on said body and extending transversely beneath said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for cleaning up any loose mineral which has fallen to the floor during the dislodging and disintegrating operation, said attacking and disintegrating mechanism comprising a pivoted frame having longitudinal guideways and endless disintegrating chains, including side and intermediate chains, guided in said guideways for orbital movement in vertical planes, the side chains being substantilaly shorter than the intermediate chains and terminating at their rearward portions a substantial distance forwardly of the rearward portions of the intermediate chains, said chains moving disintegrated mineral rearwardly along the top of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism and discharging disintegrated mineral rearwardly, the inter-. mediate chains discharging disintegrated mineral rearwardly onto said conveying means, and said side chains discharging disintegrated mineral downwardly toward said clean-up device, and chute providing members on the sides of said body rearwardly of said side chains for directing the disintegrated mineral discharged from said shorter side chains downwardly toward said clean-up device.

7. In a continuous mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base movable over a mine floor along the face of a mine vein, mine vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism mounted at the front end of said base to swing in vertical planes including disintegrating elements movable in vertical orbits for dislodging the mineral of a solid mine vein as the apparatus is advanced along the face, said attacking and disintegrating mechanism being of sufficient Width to provide a passageway in the mine vein of suflicient size and of such shape as to receive said base as the apparatus is advanced, a conveyor extending lengthwise of said base and extending forwardly and downwardly beneath said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for receiving the disintegrated mineral discharged from said mechanism and for moving the disintegrated mineral rearwardly lengthwise of said base, motors mounted on said base at the opposite sides of and beneath said conveyor and located within the lateral limits of said body for driving said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, and a motor mounted on said body beneath said conveyor and intermediate said motors for driving said conveyor.

8. In a continuous mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base movable over a mine floor along the face of a mine vein, mine vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism mounted at the front end of said base to swing in vertical planes including disintegrating elements movable in vertical orbits for dislodging the mineral from the solid mine vein, said attacking and disintegrating mechanism being of suflicient width to provide a passageway in the mine vein of sufiicient size and of such shape as to receive said base as the apparatus is advanced, a conveyor extending lengthwise of said base and extending forwardly and downwardly beneath said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for receiving the disintegrated mineral discharged from said mechanism and for moving the disintegrated mineral rearwardly lengthwise of said base, motors mounted on said base at the opposite sides of and beneath said conveyor and located within the lateral limits of said base for driving said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, a motor mounted on said base beneath said conveyor and intermediate said motors for driving said conveyor, pumping means driven by said last mentioned motor and carried by said base, fluid operated means operated by fluid under pressure discharged from said pumping means and carried by said attacking and disintegrating mechanism within the lateral limits of the latter and connected to said base between the sides thereof for swinging said attacking and disintegrating mechanism in vertical planes relative to said base, and operative fluid connections between said pumping means and said fluid operated means for effecting fluid supply to the latter.

9. In amining apparatus, a machine body, vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism pivotally mounted 'on said body to swing in vertical planes with respect thereto for dislodging the mineral of a solid mine vein, said attacking and disintegrating mechanism comprising a swingable frame having longitudinal guideways and endless disintegrating chains guided for circulation in vertical orbits along said guideways, said disintegrating chains including side and intermediate chains, the side chains being substantially shorter than the intermediate chains and terminating at their rearward portions at a substantial distance forwardly of the rearward portions of the intermediate chains, said chains moving the disintegrated mineral rearwardly along. the top of said at tacking and disintegrating mechanism'and discharging the mineral rearwardly, conveying means on said body, the intermediate chains discharging the mineral rearwardly onto said conveying means, a floor clean-up device mounted on said body beneath said atacking and disintegrating mechanism, and chutelike members carried by said body at the sides of the rearward portions of the outermost intermediate chains for directing the mineral discharged from said shorter side chains downwardly toward said clean-up device.

10. In a mining apparatus, a mobile base movable over a floor of a mine, a vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism pivotally mounted at the forward end of said base to swing in vertical planes, said attacking and disintegrating mechanism having a wide forward portion and a relatively narrow rearward portion and including disintegrating elements movable in vertical orbits for dislodging the mineral of a solid mine vein, said wide forward portion of said disintegrating mechanism being of a width at least as great as the width of said base and operating to provide a passageway in the.

mine, veinof sufiicient size and of such shape as to receive said base as the apparatus is advanced, a floor clean-up device mounted at the forward end of said base beneath said attacking and disintegrating mechanism for receiving any loose mineral which has fallen to the floor during the attacking and disintegrating operation, a conveyor carried by said base and arranged to receive disintegrated mineral discharged from said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, said attacking and disintegrating mechanism so arranged with respect to said conveyor and said clean-up device and so con' structed that a major portionof the disintegrated mineral is discharged rearwardly therefrom onto said conveyor, said base carrying spaced forward housings at the sides thereof, said narrow rearward portion of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism disposed between said side-housings and having rearward support portions pivotally mounted at the inner sides of said housings, driving means for said orbitally movable disintegrating elements including driving elements arranged within said housings. and deflector means at the rearward portion of aid attacking and disintegrating mechanism and associated with said housings for directing the disintegrated mineral discharged from said mechanism rearwardly toward said conveyor, said deflector means also including deflector portions for directing a portion of the disintegrated mineral discharged from said mechanism downwardly toward said floor clean-up device.

11. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim wherein said'orbitally movable disintegrating elements comprise side and intermediate endless disintegrating chains, the side chains being substantially shorter than the intermediate chains and terminating at their rearward portions a substantial distance forwardly of the rearward portions of the intermediate chains, said chains moving the disintegrated mineral rearwardly along the top of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism and discharging disintegrated mineral rearwardly, the intermediate chains discharging the disintegrated mineral directly onto said conveying means, the disintegrated mineral discharging downwardly from said side chains toward said clean-up device, said deflector portions of said deflector means disposed rearwardly of said short side chains at the forward sides of said housings, said deflector portions directing the disintegrated mineral discharged from said side chains downwardly toward said clean-up device.

12. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein power operated devices are provided for swinging said attacking and disintegrating mechanism in vertical planes about its pivots on said housings and including swing-effecting elements extending downwardly between said mechanism and said base and arranged at the sides of the narrow rearward portion of said mechanism with portions thereof in advance of said housings.

13. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said deflector portions of said deflector means are in the form of deflector plates arranged at the sides of the narrow rearward portion of said mechanism in advance of said housings.

14. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim- 10 wherein said deflector means for directing the disintegrated mineral rearwardly from said mechanism toward said conveyor comprises forwardly diverging side de flector plates located at the rearward portion of said attacking and disintegrating mechanism and having their forward portions cooperating with said housings for directing the disintegrated mineral rearwardly from said mechanism.

15. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherin deflector portions of said deflector means are in the form of deflector plates disposed at the front sides of said housings for deflecting disintegrated mineral downwardly at the sides of the narrow rearward portion of said mechanism toward said floor clean-up device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 865,455 Travis Sept. 10, 1907 1,143,897 Flexner et al. June 22, 1915 1,148,975 Kuhn et al. Aug. 3, 1915 1,461,707 Hanson July 10, 1923 1,549,699 Wilson Aug. 11, 1925 1,635,780 Cartlidge July 12, 1927 1,650,027 Morgan Nov. 22, 1927 1,681,001 Levin Aug. 14, 1928 1,761,060 Van Slyke June 3, 1930 1,809,282 Morgan June 9, 1931 1,880,090 Hughes Sept. 27, 1932 2,060,226 Lindgren Nov. 10, 1936 2,077,432 Oificer Apr. 20, 1937 2,202,584 Holmes May 28, 1940 2,261,160 Joy Nov. 4, 1941 2,269,781 Osgood Ian. 13, 1942 2,287,230 Cartlidge June 23, 1942 2,329,875 Cartlidge Sept. 21, 1943 2,384,447 Baldwin et a1 Sept. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 498,428 Germany May 22, 1930 534,090 Great Britain Feb. 27, '1941 566,777 Germany Dec. 21, 1932 590,696 Great Britain July 25, 1947 

